Program helps bridge gap between science, business

Franchessa Sayler, who will soon complete her doctorate in chemistry at the University of Alabama, prepares a precious metal catalyst in Shelby Hall Thursday.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Kim EatonStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 2:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 2:55 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Scientists often speak a different language, one usually only understood by other scientists. This becomes a challenge when they are attempting to explain their research or sell their technology to the general public.

“If you can’t sell it to someone, they’re not going to buy it,” said 31-year-old Franchessa Sayler, who is completing her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Alabama. “Most venture capitalists, the people that provide the money, have business degrees, not scientific backgrounds. Scientists need to know how to talk to various people about their technology. That’s really important in getting products to the marketplace.”

Sayler did not know the first thing about starting or running a business a year ago. Thanks to a $50,000 Innovation Corps Program grant from the National Science Foundation, she learned. Now, she is majority owner and managing member of ThruPore Technologies LLC, which produces catalysts.

The Innovation Corps Program, or I-Corps, was created to help guide scientific discoveries into the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society.

“The NSF has a large budget with a mission to fund fundamental science. The idea is if you fund great people to do great science, then that will flow through and business opportunities will follow,” said Martin Bakker, associate professor of chemistry.

The problem was very few patents were actually being developed from those research dollars, he added.

“There is often a disconnect between the world of scientists and engineers in a research sense versus technology that impacts people’s lives,” Bakker said. “This program was designed to help scientists and engineers learn how to quickly determine if their patent has commercial potential and the best way to move forward. The students understand the science, but they don’t understand the business side of it.”

Bakker and Sayler applied for a grant early last year and was one of 24 teams accepted. Each team is comprised of a student, faculty member and someone from the business sector; Sayler was the team’s entrepreneurial lead and Bakker the principal investigator. The team then learned the various aspects of starting a business, from how to do a market analysis to talking to customers and learning what they are interested in.

“You’re not only figuring out information about your market, but you’re making contacts with customers. I had no idea how to contact someone in the industry. It seems you can’t just call the front desk,” Sayler said. “We also learned how to assess the market. Just because you think it’s a better product doesn’t mean people will want to buy it. It’s a way to ensure that people actually want your product and that you’re selling it correctly.”

The most challenging, but also most beneficial, aspect of the program was learning how to talk to people outside of the science realm, she added.

ThruPore Technologies LLC was incorporated in July. The company produces catalysts, which are substances that work to accelerate a chemical reaction. They are widely used in the chemical industry, as well as in automobile exhausts, cleaning up smoke stack emissions, making gasoline and chemicals that go into everyday products, Sayler said.

The technology she developed is more active, which allows it to produce more product while using one-tenth of the precious metals that other catalysts use. It also does not clog as often, which means a longer lifetime.

Over the past several months, Sayler has met with potential customers, focusing on contract manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, and given out samples. They are currently in production and will be selling in the near future.

“This program is invaluable. There was just so much information I gained from it,” Sayler said. “I don’t think I would have been able to do it otherwise.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Scientists often speak a different language, one usually only understood by other scientists. This becomes a challenge when they are attempting to explain their research or sell their technology to the general public.</p><p>“If you can't sell it to someone, they're not going to buy it,” said 31-year-old Franchessa Sayler, who is completing her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Alabama. “Most venture capitalists, the people that provide the money, have business degrees, not scientific backgrounds. Scientists need to know how to talk to various people about their technology. That's really important in getting products to the marketplace.”</p><p>Sayler did not know the first thing about starting or running a business a year ago. Thanks to a $50,000 Innovation Corps Program grant from the National Science Foundation, she learned. Now, she is majority owner and managing member of ThruPore Technologies LLC, which produces catalysts. </p><p>The Innovation Corps Program, or I-Corps, was created to help guide scientific discoveries into the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. </p><p>“The NSF has a large budget with a mission to fund fundamental science. The idea is if you fund great people to do great science, then that will flow through and business opportunities will follow,” said Martin Bakker, associate professor of chemistry. </p><p>The problem was very few patents were actually being developed from those research dollars, he added. </p><p>“There is often a disconnect between the world of scientists and engineers in a research sense versus technology that impacts people's lives,” Bakker said. “This program was designed to help scientists and engineers learn how to quickly determine if their patent has commercial potential and the best way to move forward. The students understand the science, but they don't understand the business side of it.”</p><p>Bakker and Sayler applied for a grant early last year and was one of 24 teams accepted. Each team is comprised of a student, faculty member and someone from the business sector; Sayler was the team's entrepreneurial lead and Bakker the principal investigator. The team then learned the various aspects of starting a business, from how to do a market analysis to talking to customers and learning what they are interested in.</p><p>“You're not only figuring out information about your market, but you're making contacts with customers. I had no idea how to contact someone in the industry. It seems you can't just call the front desk,” Sayler said. “We also learned how to assess the market. Just because you think it's a better product doesn't mean people will want to buy it. It's a way to ensure that people actually want your product and that you're selling it correctly.”</p><p>The most challenging, but also most beneficial, aspect of the program was learning how to talk to people outside of the science realm, she added. </p><p>ThruPore Technologies LLC was incorporated in July. The company produces catalysts, which are substances that work to accelerate a chemical reaction. They are widely used in the chemical industry, as well as in automobile exhausts, cleaning up smoke stack emissions, making gasoline and chemicals that go into everyday products, Sayler said. </p><p>The technology she developed is more active, which allows it to produce more product while using one-tenth of the precious metals that other catalysts use. It also does not clog as often, which means a longer lifetime. </p><p>Over the past several months, Sayler has met with potential customers, focusing on contract manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, and given out samples. They are currently in production and will be selling in the near future.</p><p>“This program is invaluable. There was just so much information I gained from it,” Sayler said. “I don't think I would have been able to do it otherwise.”</p><p><i></p><p>Reach Kim Eaton at kim.eaton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</i></p>